Trousers-stretcher.



I. B. MAOOMBER. TROUSERS STRETCHEB. APPLICATION FILED DEO.23.1909.

Patnteol 0&1; 18, 1910 ERS co., WAsHINC-TON 0 c r re ISAAC B. MACOMIBEB,0F PORTSMOUTH, RHODE ISLAND.

TROUSERS-STRETGHER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Get. 18, 1910.

Application filed December 23, 1909. Serial No. 534,708.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, IsA'Ao B. MAooMBER, a citizen of the United States,residing at Portsmouth, in the county of Newport and State of RhodeIsland, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Trousers-Strctchers, of which the following isaspecification.

This invention relates to improvements in trousers stretchers andpertains more particularly to an improvement in that type of stretchersadapted to be inserted into the legs of the trousers.

The object of the present invention is to provide a construction whereinthe parts may be folded, collapsed, or knocked down, in order to occupycomparatively small space for purpose of transportation, storage or thelike.

The further object of the invention is to enable the parts to be foldedwith ease, facility and rapidity, and to be likewise as easily andquickly restored to operative or extended position.

Further and other objects will be later herein manifested. and setforth.

Referring to the accompanying drawings in which like characters ofreference designate similar parts throughout the several views, F ignre1 is a front elevation of the trousers stretcher showing the same in eX-panded position, Fig. 2 is an end elevation partly in section taken onthe line 2 2 of Fig. 1, Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 1, showing theparts in contracted position ready for insertion into the legs of thetrousers, Fig. 1 is a detail View partly in section of the connectionbetween the side members of the stretcher which allows the side membersto be folded, and Fig. 5 is a detail view being a section taken on theline 5 5 of Fig. 1.

In the drawings, a, a designate generally the two side members of whicheach stretcher is composed. Each side member consists of a pair ofbow-shaped bars 1 and 2 which have their inner ends extended atsubstantially right angles as indicated at 3', and adapted to have theiradjoining faces in abutting relation, as shown in Fig. 4:. Each end ofthe supporting bars 1 and 2 is bifurcated to receive thin flexible metalcreasing bars 4: and 5 respectively, the bars 4; and 5 being held in thebifurcated ends by pins 6 or the like. It will be observed with respectto Fig. 1 that the creasing bars 4 and 5 are in substantial alinementwith each other. A sheet metal casing or housing 7 is provided whichincloses the abutting right angular ends of the bars 1 and 2, thishousing being formed of a piece of sheet metal which is wrapped aroundthe ends 3, 3 and has its overlapping end parts secured as by a rivet 8,shown in Fig. 5. A spring of the flat type 9 has one end secured to thesupporting bar 1 as at 10, and has its opposite end curved so as toengage between one side wall of the housing 7 and the adjacent face ofone of the right angular ends 3, as shown in Fig. 4, it being understoodthat suflicient space is left between the said side wall of the housingand the adjoining right angular end 3, to accommodate the spring in amanner depicted in Figs. 1 and 5. It will thus be observed that each ofthe side members is composed of two parts which can be collapsed andfolded with respect to each other, which is easily done by moving one ofthe parts against the tension of the spring so as to lie in engagementwith the other part of that member.

The means for expanding the two side members a consist of a pair of.arms 11, each having a long leg 12 and a short leg 13, the

latter being arranged at an obtuse angle to the former and having theirfree extremities curved inwardly, as shown at 14. The free ends of thelegs 12 are pivoted to central points along the length of the sidemembers a, this being accomplished by the provision of U-shaped clips 15suitably supported on the bars 1, and pins 15 which extend through thefree ends of legs 12 and the two sides of the clips 15, the free ends oflegs 12 being received in the space between the two sides of the clips15. The two arms 11 are pivoted together by i'neans of two substantiallyU-shaped members 16 which embrace the arms 11 at the inner ends of legs12 and 13 thereof, a pin 17 being passed through the inner ends of themembers 16. The means for operating the arms 11 from collapsed positionto extended position and vice versa, consist of a guide member 18 whichis freely slidable along the length of the legs 13 of arms 11. The guidemember 18 is preferably constructed of a piece of metal which completelyincloses the legs 13 and which is conveniently operated by a bail member19, which latter consists of a hand engaging loop 20, the free ends ofwhich are turned at right angles as shown in Fig.

2 and passed through points intermediate the length of the guide member18, the extremities of the ends of loop 19 being headed as shown at 21.By reference to Fig. 1 it will be observed that when the parts are inextended position the right angular ends of loop 19'will engage with theinner side faces of the inwardly curved extremities 1 1 of the legs 13of arms 11 and will thereby restrict the movement of the guide memberwith respect to the legs 13 preventing disengagement of the parts in anobvious manner. The bars 1 are also provided with the clips 22 by meansof which the bottom of the trousers legs are secured to the side membera.

In the operation of stretching and creasing trousers two stretchers areused one for each leg, each stretcher being contracted into the positionshown in Fig. 3 by moving the guide member 18 inwardly, after which thestretchers are inserted into the legs of the trousers. The'clips 22 arethen turned down on the material of the trousers legs to clamp them tothe side member a. The stretcher is then expanded by moving the guidemember 18 outwardly, causing the creasing bars 2 to be placed under therequired tension effecting proper creasing of the trousers leg.

It will be seen from the above that the entire structure can be made ofmetal and being constructed in accordance with the invention will befound to be light in weight, serviceable, and efficient in operation andcan be easily applied or removed and readily collapsed and restored toextended or operative position as is desired.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secureby Letters Patent 1. A trousers stretcher comprising two side memberseach consisting of two sup porting bars having their adjacent endsturned at right angles and in engagement with each other, a housingloosely embracing said right angularends, a spring in the housing forholding said right angular ends 1n close engagement wlth each other and]with one wall of the housing, said bars being foldable against thetension of the sprmg, a creasing bar carried by each supporting bar, andmeans for expanding and contracting said side members.

2. A trousers stretcher comprising two side members, each side memberbeing composed of two parts, said parts having their inner ends arrangedadjacent each other, a

housing loosely engaging said ends of the parts, means in the housingfor holding said ends of the parts in engagement with each other andwith one wall of the housing, and means for expanding and contractingsaid side members.

3. A trousers stretcher comprising two side members, each consisting oftwo supporting bars having. their adjacent ends turned at right anglesand in engagement with each other, a housing loosely embracing saidright angular ends, a flat spring secured to one of said bars and havingits opposite ends curved and disposed in said housing to engage one ofsaid right angle ends to hold said right angular ends in engagementwit-h each other and with one wall of the housing, said bars beingfoldable against the tension of the spring, a creasing bar carried byeach supporting bar, and means for expanding and contracting said sidemembers.

4. A trousers stretcher comprising two side members, each side memberbeing composed of two parts, each of the parts including a bow-shapedbar, and a creasing bar secured between the ends of each bow-shaped bar,the bow-shaped bars of each part having their inner ends arranged injuxtaposition to each other, and means to embrace said inner ends ofsaid parts.

5. A trousers stretcher comprising two side members, each composed oftwo bars having their adjacent ends turned at right angles and inengagement with each other, means loosely embracing said right angularends, a spring for holding said right angular ends in intimate contactwith each other and with one wall of said means, and means forconnecting the side members.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in thepresence of two subscribing witnesses.

ISAAC B. MACOMBER.

Witnesses ADA E. HAGERTY, J. A. MILLER.

